By Editor,Hayley Minn

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UK’s most littered tourist attraction revealed – as iconic natural beauty spot comes out on top

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By HAYLEY MINN, DEPUTY TRAVEL EDITOR

Published: 12:23 BST, 11 September 2025 | Updated: 12:23 BST, 11 September 2025

One of the best parts of travelling around the UK is seeing the tourist attractions that can’t be found in your own city.

And this year, one in four (28%) Brits have booked a staycation specifically to visit a UK historic or cultural site.

However, where crowds head, litter usually follows.

And new research has analysed TripAdvisor review data from visitors to the UK’s most popular tourist attractions to uncover which are the dirtiest.

The most littered tourist attraction in the UK, with 1.03% of a total 2,803 reviews mentioning litter, is Snowdonia National Park.

Wales’ largest national park attracts more than four million visitors every year from across the world to climb its various hills and mountains.

And the sheer scale and nature of this location means litter picking is hard to maintain.

Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort is the second dirtiest tourist attraction in the UK and England’s dirtiest, with 0.69% of reviews mentioning litter.

The most littered tourist attraction in the UK, with 1.03% of a total 2,803 TripAdvisor reviews mentioning litter, is Snowdonia National Park

Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort is the second dirtiest tourist attraction in the UK and England’s dirtiest, with 0.69% of reviews mentioning litter

In third place is Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, with 0.66% of reviews mentioning litter

The theme park first opened in 1896 and houses the UK’s largest collection of wooden rollercoasters, such as The Big One and The Big Dipper.

Unfortunately, the site has become notorious for rubbish, with some reviewers mentioning they spotted graffiti, cigarette ends, and chewing gum dropped on the floor.

Several reviews also highlighted the lack of bins, suggesting poor waste management at the site.

In third place is Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, with 0.66% of reviews mentioning litter.

It’s one of three Scottish tourist attractions in the top 10.

Climbed by more than 150,000 people every year, and with the summit rising 1,345m above sea level, most visitors bring food and drinks along with them to fuel their hike.

Unfortunately, some choose to litter the area, with several of the 2,648 reviews warning others to take their rubbish home with them.

Despite only coming in fifth place on the list, it was Alton Towers which had the highest number of reviews mentioning litter, with the theme park getting 147 comments about rubbish.

Despite only coming in fifth place on the list, it was Alton Towers which had the highest number of reviews mentioning litter, with the theme park getting 147 comments about rubbish

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, the Titanic Museum in Belfast was the least littered tourist attraction

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, the Titanic Museum in Belfast and The Loch Ness Museum in Scotland were the least littered tourist attractions.

Graham Matthews, general waste expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, who conducted the research, said: ‘To see so many reviews highlighting the amount of litter at some of the UK’s most iconic tourist attractions is a concern.

‘Many of these sites hold historical importance, so it’s vital that visitors treat them with respect.

‘During busy tourism periods, it isn’t always easy for staff to manage waste effectively. However, it’s crucial that visitors all play their part to manage their own rubbish responsibly throughout the year.

‘You should never litter, and if there are no bins available at a site, always take your rubbish home with you to dispose of it properly. That way, we can ensure that these sites remain well-preserved for years to come.’

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UK’s most littered tourist attraction revealed – as iconic natural beauty spot comes out on top

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